DESCRIPTION
Land Acquisition for up to 6 parcels of private property to construct a setback levee and side channel reconnection project. The future restoration project benefits would be twofold: reconnection of valuable habitat as well as construction of new habitat through the use of engineered log jams. Preliminary planning shows opportunity to reconnect approximately 27 acres of side channel floodplain
The proposed over-arching project is to construct a setback levee in order to reconnect the Carbon River main stem channel (south of Bridge Street in the City of Orting) to its floodplain. The main stem of the Carbon River channel moved from the right bank to the left bank pushing the river up against the levee. The proposed setback levee will result in increased high quality fish habitat, flood protection. This project is located in an area utilized by ESA listed Chinook salmon, bull trout and winter steelhead. Coho salmon are also known to be present. The floodplain area of re-connection is approximately 27-Ac. The specific project site location is the Carbon River, left bank side between river miles 3.0 and 3.7, south of Bridge Street SE. The setback levee will result in increased fish habitat and flood protection. The length of the conceptual identified setback levee structure is approximated 3,500 lineal feet. Bank stabilization features (that are conducive to fish habitat benefits) are also needed along a segment of the existing Carbon River levee that is located immediately upstream of the conceptual setback. The project will progress in multiple phases. The proposed grant funding application will focus on Phase 2 of the overall project described in the above Project Name section. This stage of the project is deemed as the feasibility report with conceptual alternative designs and cost estimates.